Michigan Kubb Championship 2019 Recap

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Unexpected was the theme for the first Michigan Kubb Championship starting with a beautiful sunny day after weeks of rain and flooding. Jesse Fraim, the tournament director, did an amazing job hosting this first of its name event and it easily rates as one of the best run kubb events so far this year.

After six Klassic system rounds the top eight teams were seeded into a best-of-three, single elimination tournament. Unexpectedly, the four teams to emerge from the first round were the third seeded Aroostookubb (Phil Dickinson, Mark Weaver), fifth seeded Kubb Squirrels (Neil Weakland, Paul Weakland), seventh seeded S.O.C.K.S. (Jaime Feathers, Josh Feathers, Cody Glorioso) and eighth seeded Rhymes with Tube (Dave Giese, Heidi Schwarzenbart)

In the semi-finals, S.O.C.K.S. prevailed over Aroostookubb, the last Michigan team in competition, and Rhymes with Tube defeated the Kubb Squirrels after three long games that lasted into the early evening sun.

In the first game of the final, Rhymes with Tube elected to go first and took an early four kubb lead by the end of their second turn. A later advantage line given by S.O.C.K.S. allowed Rymes with Tube to clear the final baseline kubb and secure the first win of the match.

In the second game, S.O.C.K.S had their opportunity to go first and took a baseline kubb but were quickly on their heels as Rhymes with Tube took a 4-2 kubb lead over the next couple of turns. However, Rhymes with tube had trouble clearing their field kubbs and left an advantage line for two turns in a row that allowed S.O.C.K.S. to win the game and tie the match.

The third game was more even, as the teams kept pace with each other eventually reaching 10 kubbs in play after Josh and Jaime Feathers went two-for-two at 8 meters. Giese was then able to put the match away after a great inkast that allowed him to clear eight kubbs with his first baton. Schwarzenbart then put the game away with the first of her two batons left for the king.